SHEN YI MU was suddenly dumbstruck. It was him who made his Ah Yue cry? How could that be possible? How come he didn't know about it? Did some version of himself from an alternate universe did it? Because there was no way he could do it! But since Jiang Yue said it was his fault, then let it be his fault. It's much more important to stop him from crying.

"Okay. It's my fault. Please, don't cry," he said, still trying to wipe the tears flowing down on his cheek.

Jiang Yue raised his head. "You don't even know why I said it was your fault," he grumbled.

"Then, can you tell me the reason so I could change it? Or if you're angry, you can just hit me until you're satisfied."

Jiang Yue turned to the side and said stubbornly like a kid, "I don't want to say it."

"Okay, I won't ask anymore. Just please, don't cry."

Jiang Yue seemed to be annoyed by what he said. But more than that, he also saw a hint of frustration. Then he wiped away his tears and forcefully stopped himself from crying.

"Why won't you continue asking? Would you just do whatever I tell you to?"

Shen Yi Mu stared at Jiang Yue. It was pretty obvious that he was a bit unstable right now. He couldn't understand why he was being unreasonable. But he didn't want to argue with him.

"Yes. If it's something within my ability, then I will do it," he said honestly.

Jiang Yue seemed to even become more frustrated by that answer. "Why are you being so good to me? If I say that I don't want you to go abroad after you graduate and just stay here, would you do it?" Then as if realizing what he just said, he abruptly turned around. "No, I- I don't know what came over me. Please, just forget what I said."

Shen Yi Mu just stood there, processing the things he heard. So, the reason Jiang Yue was acting like this was because he though he was going abroad? Which was not true, by the way. He didn't know where he heard it. But would someone show this kind of reaction just because their friend would go abroad?

His heart suddenly started beating faster and faster, thinking of a certain possibility. Could it be? No, he needed to calm down. He didn't want to waste this kind of opportunity. He might not have another chance like this.

He promised himself before that he would be satisfied as long as he could remain beside Jiang Yue. It didn't matter if they would just remain friends for the rest of their lives. What's more important for him was that he could be with him, even if only as friends.

But humans were naturally greedy. When one thought that this was enough, there would come a time when they wanted more. And that's what Shen Yi Mu was feeling right now.

He wanted more of Jiang Yue. He wanted to be the 'one' for him. To do everything for him, not under the guise of a friend but a lover. This was the chance for him to take a step further into their relationship. And he decided to take a gamble. A gamble to that very small possibility that he might feel the same way.

"Why don't you want me to go abroad?" he asked, his voice was calm but his heart was almost jumping out of his chest.

"I told you to just forget about it."

"How could I forget when you cried like that because of it?" Shen Yi Mu turned Jiang Yue around, so he could see his face. The tips of his eyes were red because of crying. "Can you tell me the reason, please, Ah Yue?"

Jiang Yue pursed his lips. "I- I don't know. When I heard that Brother Mu might leave and go to a place that I couldn't reach, it felt like something pierced my heart. It hurt so much that it made me breathless. Before I knew it, I just found myself crying. I- I don't want to be away from Brother Mu. Just thinking that we might grow apart and that I might not be able to see you again was so painful, I almost felt like dying. I know it's weird. As a friend, I have to support your decision. But I just can't. If it meant that I couldn't see you again, then I'd rather be a bad friend." He raised his head. "Why do I feel this way?"

Gazing down at Jiang Yue's apricot shaped eyes, Shen Yi Mu felt breathless. Especially after hearing what the other said. His fast-beating heart was going on overdrive. But at the same time, he also felt indescribable happiness.

He wanted to tell him the possible reason why he felt that way, but he couldn't. Because he didn't want to dictate his feelings. It's important that he realized his feelings on his own. But that didn't mean he wouldn't say anything.

The emotions inside him were already surging. He wanted to just pull Jiang Yue into his arms and tell him how important he was to him. Instead, he cupped his pretty face into his hands and stared straight into those beautiful eyes.

"Listen, Ah Yue, I don't know where you heard that I'm going abroad, but that's not true. I will stay at B City even after I graduate. How could I bear to leave you?"

"Really?"

"Yes," he answered. "Won't you ask me why I can't bear to leave you?"

"Why?" Jiang Yue asked, looking at him with eyes full of curiosity and even a hint of expectation.

"Because you're important to me. So important that I don't think I could even live without you now. You're my treasure, Ah Yue. The most beautiful treasure that God has given me. Your smile, your kindness and gentleness, your intelligence, your sense of humor, your strength, your perseverance, I love them all." Shen Yi Mu put his forehead on Jiang Yue's forehead. "I love you, Ah Yue. So, so much."

=====

"And that's how I confessed to your Uncle Yue," Shen Yi Mu said to his nephew.